Fly-net.



No. 652,3!8. Patented lune'2 6, 1900. W. KOOTZ.

.FLY NET.

(Application filed Oct. 18, 1897.)

(No Model) v swam-150M UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFIc WILLIAM KOOTZ, OFMILWVAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

FLY-N ET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,318, dated June 26,1900. Application filed October 18, 1897- Serial No. 655,509. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM KOOTZ, of Milwaukee, in the countyofMilwaukee and State of WVisconsin, have invented a new andusefullmprovementin Means for Connecting the Ends of Flexible Sectionsor Straps, of which the following is a description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,which are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in means for connecting theends of flexible sections or straps, more especially intended forconnecting the ends of sections composing the longitudinal ribs offly-nets.

In the ordinary form of fly-nets the longitudinal ribs of the net areformed from continuous lengths of leather. This not only increasesexpense, but at the same time these long ribs are liable to be quiteuneven throughout their length. Heretofore objection has been made toforming these ribs of a plurality of sections in view of the unsightlyappearance caused by the rivets which are necessarily used forconnecting the contiguous ends of the sections. A fly-net, however,having the ribs thereof composed of sections is very desirable if theabove objection can be overcome, inasmuch as not only is expense in themanufacture saved by the utilization of short strips, but the ribs canbe thereby readily made even throughout their entire lengths.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide an improvedconstruction in which the device connecting the contiguous ends offlexible sections is entirely hidden from view and appearances therebynot in the least marred.

With the above primary object and other incidental objects in view theinvention consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, ashereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of theinvention, showing a portion of the ends of sections of the rib insection and the covering device also in section. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof Fig. 1 with the covering device removed. Fig. 3 is a detail view ofthe covering device, showing the sections of rib in dotted lines; andFig. 4 is a detail View of the blank from which the covering device isformed, the dotted lines indicating the points at which said coveringdevice is bent to give it the requisite form.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the sections ofribs,and 11 the strings or lashes extending therefrom. The sections ofrib are connected at adjacent ends by means of rivets 12, the ends ofsaid rivets passing through the sections and being bent down across thejoint. Two of such rivets are preferably employed, one havingits endspassing through the sections from one side and bent down across thejoint at the opposite side and the other rivet having its ends bentacross the joint on the side opposite to the side at which thefirst-referred-to rivet has its ends bent down and across the joint.

My improvement relates more particularly to the covering device forobscuring the rivets which connect the ends of the sections, and in thedrawings said device is designated by the numeral 13. It consists of ablank having the rectangular members 14: 14, projecting outwardly fromopposite side edges thereof, and the pointed members or prongs 15 15,projecting from the rounded ends thereof. The dotted lines in Fig. 4indicate the manner in which the blank is bent in order. to give it theform shown in Fig. 3. In applying this covering to the rib the blank isplaced over the joint of the sections of the rib and the rectangularmembers are bent down adjacent to the side edges of the sections andthence beneath the under sides of the sections, as clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 3. The end prongs 15 15 are then forced through the sectionsof the rib and are bent against the under sides thereof. By thusarranging the covering the rivets are entirely obscured, wherebyappearances are greatly enhanced, and at the same time the cover atfordsa protection against the rivets catching any portion of the harness orscratching the horse.

While the invention is more particularly designed for uniting theadjacent ends of sections of leather forming the longitudinal ribs offly-nets, yet I wish it understood that the invention is not restrictedto such application, as it is obvious that it may be used for connectingthe adjacent ends of sections of an endless belt, or, in fact, issusceptible of a variety of different applications.

What I claim as my invention is-- The combination, of sections offlexible material, means for uniting the adjacent ends of said sections,and a covering adjusted over the adjacent ends of the sections, andadapted to cover the uniting means, said covering formed at oppositeedges with projecting members which are bent down adjacent to oppositeside edges of the respective sections of the flexible material and thenbent be- WILLIAM KOOTZ.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR L. MORSELL,

ANNA V. FAUs'r.

